Sealing-in machine for tipless lamps



Feb. 9 1926.

J. B. WHITMORE ET A1.

SEALlNG IN MACHlNIi` FOR'TIPLESS LAMPS Filed August 1 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 2.

ATTORNEY FIGA,

l Feb. 9 1926.

, 1,572,631 J. B.,wH|TMoRE ET AL- f SEALING IN MACHINE FOR TIPLESS LAMPS Ffiled August 1 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS JAMES B WHITMOEE- JOHN E. FERGUSON.

Il .;/4- Li 'L '9 I ,l I

INVENToRs Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES g N1,572,631 PATENT oFFlcE.

JAMES BRYANT WHITMORE AND JOHN EBLING FERGUSON, F BLOOMFIELD, NW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ,LAMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ynNNsYLvANIA.

SEALING-IN MACHINE FOR TIPLESS LAMPS.

Appncandn inea August 1, 1921. serial No. 488,754;

in thc county of Essex and State of-New- Jersey, have invented a new and`useful Improvement in' Sealing-In Machines for 'lipless Lamps, of which the following s a specification. I

rlhis invention relates to lamp making machinery and more particularly .tomachines which operate to e'llect the consoli` dation of lamp parts as, for example, the

mounts and the bulbs in the manufactureof incandescent electric lamps.

An object -of the invention is to auto@ matically y align and support several j of the component parts offa lamp for'the pur* pose of consolidation.

Another'object is to provide a machine which will automatically adjust one lamp part in a given relation to another part and operate to perform this functionin an expeditious and efficient manner.

A further object is to provide a mechanism which will automatically change the relative positions of connected parts of 'a `lamp `while the union between the parts is in a pliable state.

.Other objects `will manifest themselves upon a reading of the following descrip' Machines for sealing mounts into bulbs, for the purpose of y producing electric ,-lamps, are well known -in the fart as sealingin machines. One type of such machines in' generaluse employs a rotary conveyor upon which a'plurality of sealing-in heads f are rotatably mounted. These heads comprie'means for supportingbulbs and suitable mechanism for holding the lamp mounts, which mechanism is termed the mount holder. In practice the operator secures a mount in the mount holder, and' in certain types of lamps Vit isa prerequisite to'.locate the light source, i. e. 4the `filament, in the plane of the maximum diameter of the bulb. This positioning of the light source necessitates certain struc!` tural requirements in the mechanisnrof a sealing-in head.

After a mount isI positioned and a bulb has been placed in proper relation thereto,`

the carrier or conveyor is rotated a given l distance and portions of the bulb are subjected to heat by means'of a series of burners which rendr plastic portions of the neck of the bulb and the mount, thereby effecting the consolidation of the bulb to the flared portion of the mount. After the -consolidation of the-mount tothe bulb and while the glass is in a semplastic condition Ait has been found necessary to pull down the mount, thus changing its position with respect to the bulb. The object of this relative downward movement of the mount being to prevent certain stresses which would be created if the material were permitted to solidifywithout the. mechanical stretching thus caused, and this downward movement is, in the art, commonly termed the pull down. Hereto'fore, the pulldown operation has been accomplisled above mentioned pull-down so that upon a complete cycle of a conveyor, a lamp is ready, with' the light sourceuproperly located, to be removed by the operator for the assembly in the head of another mount 'and bulb.

Lamp bulbs or blanks are commonly manufactured with ann elongated neck and it is the practice "to lprovide the necks of bulbs with an annular collar for the, purpose ofvmore readily severing the lower or surplus portion of the neck from the bulb to facilitate the .handling of' the same.

This'operation of breaking off the lower portion of the bulb is known as the crackoni.

In the present invention the crack-off operation may be eliminated and the bulb handledwith its` full length of neck and an operator may, without undue attention, drop a bulb over amount, permit the lower end of the bulb to rest-upon a shelf or' collar and manually A novel form of gripping mech t relation to the' mount. a temporary support for the bulb prior to4 then actuate cooperative machine elements to pick up the bulb and adjust it in proper stood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation, with parts broken away, of a machine embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts i broken away, of the machine;

Fig. v3 is a section taken on line Ill-1H in Fig. 1, but on a' larger scale;

Fig. 4 illustrates one style `of a mount.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view takenon line V-V in Fig. 1, in the direction ofthe arrows; j

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a bulb about to be engaged by gripping jaws;

Fig..8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 after the jaws have gripped the bulb.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatieview of a bulb secured by jaws but having the neck portion vof shorter length;

Fig. 10 shows diagrammatically the relation of acam surface to the heads.

The sealing-in head, as illustrated, consists of a casting having a central bearing and two laterally disposed vertical bearings in which spindles are rotatably `mounted. The spindles carry 'a pair of arms ,upon which centering-and guide jaws are suitably positioned. The central bearing furnishes.

a means for supporting a mount holder and when a mount is inserted therein and a bulb placed in position, the jaw arms are closed to secure the bulb, after which the head is rotated until the fires play uponthe proper portion and the bulb and the mount are sealed or consolidated with the. stein.

Referring t0 the drawing the sealing-in head as illustrated consists of an' upright or standard comprising a central enlarged portion 2 having upper and lower central bearings 3 and 4. Integral `with and at each side of the upper central bearing are positioned lateral vertical bearings 5 and 6. The standard'is mounted rotatably in a hub 7 1of a conveyor or spider 8, common to this class of machines and indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

Within the central bearing is disposed astem or mount holding tubular member which is actuated to secure the mount when the'exhaust tube thereon is inserted into the said member. This mount holding member y consists of a tube9 which is adapted to be moved vertically and is provided with two The collar affords of the tube 9, thus, if the exhaust tube of a mount is inserted into the tube and between the balls, the balls may be brought to bear upon the exhaust tube. K

An inwar movement.of the balls is, in the present construction, caused by the slight upward movement of the tube 9 which movement 'brings the balls in contact with a tapered surface 12 of an intermediate sleeve 13 which causes an inward thrust of the balls, to secure the exhaust tube. Concentrically disposed with relation to the sleeveA 13 and secured thereto is an outer sleeve 14 which serves as a casing andcarrier for the gripping means and is reciprocable vertically in the combined'` bearings 3 and 4.

The -outer sleeve 14 is normally retained in a lower position through the action of a spring 15 dispo-sed between a collar 16 se-l 1 cured to the sleeve 14 and a ange 17 of a' ldriving pulley 12S-secured to the bearing 4. By arranging the gripping members or balls .11 in different transverse planes they 4may be actuated to provide a three point grip upon an exhaust tube at two places along it-s length. By this. means a tube is held in a vertical position and with its axial line substantially. coincident with that of the head. The normal position ofthe sleeve 14 and consequently the stem gripping mechanism, is governed by a split stop' collar 19 which may readily be adjusted by a screw 21.

As a mea-ns of supporting a bulb in posi- 'tion with respect to a positioned mount, a pair of arms 22 and 23 are provided, each of which carries an upper jaw 24 and a lower` jaw 25. These arms 22 and 23'are fastened to the upper ends of shafts 28 and 29 respectively, and are rotatable in the bearings 5 and 6. The lower ends of the shafts 2S andl 29 extend below their bearings and the -shaft 28A has fastened thereto acollar 31 provided with an extended portion or arm 32. The shaft 29 is provided with a rigidly attached crank 33 one arm 34 of which ter-.

minates in a finger piece 35. /The opposite arm 36 of the crank is snnilar to the proj ection 32 to which it is connected b v link 37. j

A movementof the linger piece 35 rotates the shaft 29 and oscillates the jaw carrying arm 23, a simultaneous transmission of this movement is imparted to the arm 22 by the link 37, thuswhen the finger piece is moved toward the head the arms 22 and'23 which .carry thevjaws 23 and `24 are rocked away to the link 37 and the other end secured to a relatively stationary portion of the head by 'pin 40.

For the purpose of providing a support -for the thumb of an operator during a coni- 'vertical travel.

A lamp mount 44 as shown in Fig. 4 is .supported in the head by the insertion elf its exhaust tube 45 into thetube 9 and between 'the balls 11. lVhen the tube 9 of the mount holder is in its lower position, as diagramniatically shown in Fig. 10. in which a track 46 having a cam face-47 is indicated, the lowerl end of the tube 9 rests upon the lower parallel surface ofthe cam and the balls 11 will then be in their lower position removed from the bevel face 12 and free to permit the entrance of the exhaust tube. To position a bulb about the mount loosely disposed in the holder, the finger piece 35 compressed until the jaws 24 and are opened suiliciently to admit the bulb which may readily be placed over the mountand. be temporarily supported on the collar 19 (see Figs. 7 and S.) 'lflie finger piece then being released the jaws 25inove toward and engage with the tapered surface of the bulb` causing it to be thrust or ejected toward the jaws 24 which resist and limit the upward movement of the bulb. vThe bulb is in this manner automatically centered with its axis substantially coincident with the axial -l'ine of the head,l by a three point contact provided by the lower jaws 25 one of which has a V-shaped two point contact notch 47 suitably positioned; the .other having a singlepoint contact 4S. Fig. 9 shows a supported bulb which has had the lower end of the neck cracked oft in the bulb of this character being equally applicable to the head.

lVhen a mount and bulb 'has been suitably positioned in a head the conveyor or rotatable support is moved to bring the bulb in proper relation to the usual tires which renderplastic a given portion of the bulb. As lthe conveyor is rotated, the tube 9 moves -up the inclined cam face luntil the balls 11 have gripped the exhaust tube by reason of their contactwith the bevel surface l2 of the tube 13 which is fastened to and is movable with the sleeve 14.

A slight travel of the "tube 9 up the in'- eline sui-face 47 is sullicient to secure the eX- liaust tube A continued movement ofthe tube 9 up the incline causes the sleeve 14 to move upwardly in opposition to the spring usual manner, a

15; thus the collar 19 is raised above the upper end of the bearin -3, and the mount is moved upwardly miti? the filament is posi.- tioned at a point above the desired light center and at a distance above the required final'position' equal to the amount ot' a subsequent pulldown. 7

As the conveyor rotates and subjects the bulb to suitably disposed fires, the mount-is maintained in its upper position inasmuch as the end ot the tube 13 is ti'aveisine the elevated surface of the track 46, however, as

the ,headl completes its rotation the downwardly vinclined portion of the track or cani lace 47 permits the entire mount holdento take its initial or lower position, under the.

action of the spring 15, land automatically A accomplish the pull down voperation which is limite-d by the stop collar 19 contacting.

with the upper end of the bearing 3. Thus the filament is accurately positioned in any predetermined location in the 'bulb inaccordance with the adjustment of the collar 19. A continued movement `of the conveyorvcarries the end of the tube 9 from Contact with vthe cam face 47 and the tube is movedl downwardly within the sleeve 14, through the agency of a sprinlgr 50 disposed be-tween the lower .end of the intermediate tube 13 and a collar 51 secured to the lower end ot' i the tube 9. This downward movement of the'tube 9 tlius serves to move the balls 11 from engagement with the tapered faces 12 and releasethe exhaust 'tube and consequently permit the free removal of the lamp by the operator.

4It is obvious that the upward movement of the mount will be determined and `may be varied by the cam surface and that la convenient adjustment of the downward movement lor pulldown may be had by suitably positioning the collar 19.

, -When a mount and 'bulb are in their operative relative positions the conveyor is rotated to subject the bulb to heat, and thus j render plastic such portions of the bulb necessary to effect la sealing or consolidaltion between the flare of the mount and Athe the annular enlarged portion ot the bulb.

Thus when heat is applied and `the material weakens the added weight of this member serves to elongate the neck and sever the collar from the bulb.

In addition to the weighted member 52 it is common to force air upwardly through the stem holder, such air finding outlet through orifices 5l atv the upper end ofthe. tube9 of the mount holder. This air supply is common to machines ofvtliistype and is conducted through the stemholder by means of passages 55 (see Fig. 3) disposed longitudinally between the walls of the sleeve 14. and tube 13. The interior of the collar 1G at the lower end of the sleeve 14 is of conical shape andat one or'nioi'e places about the track 4.6 air discharge outlets are' provided from a pressure line and when the conical shaped collar registers with such an outlet it provides for the guidance of air through the stein holder.

lt will readily be understoodthat the arms QL and 23 and the jaws thereof will automatically position a bulb with its vertical axis coincident to that of a positioned mount. The jaws Z-. and are secured to the arms by screws and 57 respectively and the jaws are slotted about the screw thus providing for their adjustment with respect to the head. rlhis permits the handling of a greater range ot' differently sized bulbs.

AThe embodiment of our invention las set forth in the accompanying drawings provides an improved sealing-in head for use in the production of miniature tipless lamps. However, it is obvious that this head is applicable to the larger type of lamp and that the change, necessary to accommodate such lamps, will be of degree A and is contemplated by the present invention.

lt will be further understood that this invention may be embodied in many other forms than shown and described, and is not restricted to the precise. formlshown but intends to cover all changes and modiications within the spirit and scope of the ap-4 pended claims. That is claimed is:` y

1. A head for a sealing-in machine comprising a` lamp-iuount holder, means for temporarily supporting a bulb and 'means associated with said holder whereby said bulb may bevadjusted and supported with its axial line coincident to that -of the mount holder.

9.-. A head for a scaling-in machine comprising a holder adapted to vertically support alamp mount, means for temporarily .supporting abulb and means for lifting and supportingsaid bulb' with the. axial line thereofl substantially coincident with that of Said mount.

A head for a sealing-in machine comprising, means for supporting a lamp mount in a vertical position, means for temporarily supporting a bulb, a pa-ir of movable j aws adapted to be actuated in oppositedirections to lift and support` said bulb with its axial line substantially coincidentto the axial line of the mount.

Vet. A head for a sealing-in machine coin? p'i-i'sing', Lmeansfor supportinga lainp mount' with its axial line coincident with the axial line of the head, means lfor temporarily supporting a bulb, a pair of arms adapted to swing toward the axial line .of the head toward the axial line of the head' and .adapted to support a bulb in a given rela tion to said mount holder and means' for automatically changing the vertical position of saidmount holder.

7. A sealing-in machine comprising a lamp mount-holder, a bulb-support including a plurality of jaws, `me`ansvfor. m0ving 4said jaws toward the axial line 'o'f said holder to secure abulb, said bulb-support being capable of supporting a'bulb ina given relation to said mountsholder, means for securinga mount in said holder and means for moving said mount vertically within the bulb after said mount has been united thereto.

8. A head for a sealing-in machine comprising means for vertically supporting a lamp mount, a pair of oscillatory arms, two jaws having theirl Contact faces in different vertical planes disposed upon each arm, and means for operating said arms to secure a bulb in a predetermined position within the head.

9. A head for a sealing-in machine cem- 'prising a pair of oscillatory arms, two jaws disposed upon each arm, means for adjiisting said jaws transversely of said 'head and means for operating said arms to secure a bulb in a predetermined position. with respect to the head.

10. A head for a sealing-in machine comprising a lamp rmount holder positioned on the axial line of the head, a ypair of oscillatory arms, two jaws positioned upon each arm, means for'operating said arins'to se- -cure a bulb in a predetermined position with respect to the said mount holder and means for varying the -position of the mount with respect to said bulb. 1

1l. A head for a sealing-in machine coinprising amount holder positioned on. the axial line of the head, a pair yof oscillatory arms, two jaws disposed upon each arm, means for operating said arms to adjust a bulb in vpredetermined position with llO within said bulb.

respect to said head and means for automatically moving said holder vertically 12. A head for a sealing-in machine comprising a mount holder positloned on the ,axial line of said head, a pair of oscillatory arms, two jaws disposed upon each arm, means for operating said arms to adjust a bulb in predetermined position with respect to said head, means for automatically moving saidholder within said bulb and adjustable means associated with said holder for limiting the movement thereof.

13. A head for a sealing-in machine comprising a lamp mountfholder, a pair of` oscillatory arms, an lupper and a lower jaw positioned on each of said arms, means for operating said arms to bringthem into engagement with a bulb vin suoli a manner that one set of jaws causes a'movement of the bulb until motion thereof is restricted by contact withl the other set of jaws.

'14. Ahead :for a sealing-in machine comprising a lamp mount holder, a pair of oscillatory arms, an upper and a lower jaw positioned on each of said arms, means for operating said arms `tobring them into engagement with a bulb in such a manner that the lower jaws cause an upward movement of said bulb until arrested by Contact with said upper jaws.

15. `A head for a sealing-in machine comprising a lamp inountholder, a pair'of oscillatory arms, an upper and lower jaw adjust# ably positioned upon' ea'fch'ot said arms,

Ameans for operating said arms to move saidlower. jaws into engagement with a tapered portion of a` bulb wherebyv said lower jaws cause an -upward movement of said bulb and the upper jaws limits said movement.-

16. A head for a sealing-in machine comprising a 'lamp mount'holder, a pair pf -osl cillatory arms, an upper and lower jaw positioned on each arm, said lowerv jaws adapted to provide an initial engagement withthe tapered portion of said .bulb and.

means for etl'ecting a movement of said jaws toward the bulb whereby the bulbv is forced upwardly and ,in contact with the upper jaws of the arms.

17. 'A head for a sealing-.inv machine comprising a lamp mount holder, a pair of oscillatory arms, an upper and lower. jaw p ositioned upon each of said arms, means for. operating said arms to bring the said lowerjaws into engagement with a tapered portion of the bulb whereby said lower jawscause a movemcntpt said bulb and the upper jaws limit said movement and means for effecting a vertical movement of said lampmonnt holder. 'j 18. A head for a sealing-1n machine comtion to said holder, each of said arms being provided with a` centering jaw and a guide jaw, means for operating said arms to bring said jaws into engagement withA a bulb whereby said bulb is centered with rcspect tothe holder and retained from lateral movement. i

19. A head for a sealingin machine comprising a lamp mount holder, a pair of oscillatory arms disposed in operative relation to said holder, each of said arms being provided with a centering j aw and a guide jaw, means for operating said arms to bring;` said jaws into engagement. with a bulb whereby said bulb is positioned with its axial line substantially coincident to the axis ot said holder and means for automatically effecting a vertical movement of said holder 20. A head for a sealing-in machine com` prising ya lamp'mountholder, a temporary` support for a bulb, means adapted to engage with and lift said bulb Afrom ysaidisupport.

21. A head for a sealing-in machinecomprising a lamp mount holder, a temporary. support for a bulb, means adapted to engage with and'lift said bulb from said support and means for automatically effecting a ver# ,support for a bulb, means tor lifting said bulb from said support,'means for limiting the upward movement of said bulb and means for automatically effecting the `up ward movement of said lamp mountv holder.

24. A head tor a sealingin machine comprising a lamp mount holder, a temporary support for a' bullo, means for elevating and maintaining said bulb in a predetermined vposition with respect to said holder.

25. A head for a seaing-in machine comprising a temporary support for said bulb,

a pair of movable arms, two jaws secured to each arm, means Jfor operating said arms to bring one pair of said jaws in contact with atapered portion of said bulb whereby said pair of. jaws tends to cause an upward movement of' said bulb and the remaining pair of jaws limits the upward movement of Said bulb.

26. A head for a sealing-in machine comprising a lamp mount holder, a temporary support for a bulb, means for elevating and maintaining said bulb in a predetermined position with respect to said holder and means for automatically actuating said holder. to move the "mount vertically with respect to said bulb. l prising a lamppmount holder,'.a'pair ot oscillatory arms disposed in operative rela-- `support; for a bulb, a pair of movable arms,

upwardly and move it in Contact Vfor operating 'said arms, an upper and a lower jaw secured to each arm, said lower jaws being posi-tioned to engage with the tapered portion of a positioned bulb whereby a closing of the jaws tends to eject the bulb with the upperjaws.

29. A head for a sealingn machine coniprising an adjustable temporarysupport for a bulb, a pair of oscillatory arms, means for operating said arm, an upper and a lower jaw secured to each arm, said jaws being adjustable transversely of the head, said lower jaws being positioned to engage with the tapered portion of a bulb whereby an actuation of the arms causesthe lower jaws to engage with the bulb and thrustit upwardly until the upper portion of the bulb contacts with the upper jaws.

30. A head for a sealing-in machine comrising a mount holder, a pair of oscillatory jaws movable toward the axial line of the holder whereby a bulb may be supported with its vertical axis coincident with that of the mount, means for uniting the mount to the bulb and means for automatically eiecting a pulling down of the mount.

31. In a sealing-in machine, the combina- 'tion of a rotatable support,l a plurality of heads mounted thereon, means for `securing a lamp mount in each of said heads, means for positioning. a bulb in a given relation'to said mount and means for changing the rela-- tive positions of said mount and bulb during a movement ofthe support. j l

32. In a sealing-in machine, the combination of a rotatable support, a lieadrotatably mounted thereon, means for Holding a mount, means for temporarily supporting a bulb, means for automatically adjusting said bulb to a predetermined position with rel spect to the mount,means for consolidating said mount and bulb and means for changing tlie relative position of saidmount subsequent to said consolidation. i

33. In a sealing-in machine, the combination of a rotatable support, a plurality of headsI mounted thereon, each head having a holder for a lamp mount, means for temporarily supporting a bulb in a given relation to said mount, means for automaticaly adjusting said bulb to bring the axial line thereofcoincident with the axial line of the -mount, means for securing said mount in said holder, means for effecting an upwardprising a plurality of contact members disposed in pairs, means for temporarily supporting a bulb, means for engaging the bulb with one pair of said members -to cause a bulb to move therebetween and engage with another pair of said members tf I,center the,

bulb within the head.

35. A head for a sealing-in n chine comprising two pairs of jaws, each pair disposed in a different plane, means for operatingl said jaws to-`cause one pair thereof to grip the tapered portion of av bulb disposed j therebetween, whereby the .bulb is moved until another portion thereof makes contact with another pair of jaws to center the bulb within the head. 4-

In testimony whereof,we have hereunto subscribed our names this 29th day of July JAMES BRYANT WHITMORE. JOI-IN EBLI- NG-FERGUSON. 

